The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

XO 180 THE ARGOSY. Her slender, brown hand closed ever it, and, rising with a little swaggeriag effect of throwing off a weight, she dropped the revolver in her pocket again and laughed gaily, “It’s getting awfully late,” she said, ‘* for a girl who was up at six o’clock, and I've talked more than I ever do. Thank you so much, Miss Letherby, for letting me, and for—everything. Now, if Mr. Fane is going to. see me home—” she flashed a smile at him, But out in the street she seemed a differ- ent person; she was grave, absorbed. It was dark, and across in the park the shadows were deeply purple, except where the lamps threw long arms of light into the depths. Behind them the big house that Miss Letherby’s uncle had left her was darkened suddenly. Tony had the feeling of being all alone in the world with Robin Cortland. The roar of New York came to them muffled, subdued. “T wish,” said Tony quietly, “ that you were going to ride with me in the blue devil.” The girl looked at him steadily. ‘' Per- haps I am,” she said, in a voice that trem- bled a little. ‘‘ Tony, I have to trust you; there is no one else; I left too little time to change my plans. While we were in there some one tampered with this car, I can't get her to start. Is there any way that I can get to the Golden Trust Company, quietly and without a fuss by eleven? Be careful; speak quietly; we may be watched from the house; the lights-are out; see.” Tony’s nerves steadied themselves. He was as cool as this girl from the West as he answered: “Yes, of course; but are you sure about your car; isn’t there something I can do? Im a pretty fair mechanic.” “No; I’m sure, I half suspected it, at the last. But we’ve got to see that they know we don’t use it. Will you go back to Miss Letherby’s and have one of the Men come and watch the car until we can send for it? Miss Letherby hasn’t a garage on the place. And will you say, please that you are taking me right back to the hotel through the park. It's a glorious night for a walk; that ought to be sufficient rea- son.” “T think you’d better come with me; I can lie if I have to, but I’m afraid of slip- ping up on this. I’m with you heart and soul, but I haven’t much of a brain-piece, don’t you know; I'm better at action. It is all a bit bewildering, Miss Robin, but you can trust me—to the death.”’ “ All right,” said the girl. She walked beside him to the great froat door, her slender figure erect and graceful, and laughed and chatted with him for the mo- ment before the door swung back at their ring. A surprised-looking man-servant opened the door. “Tt’s Mr. Fane, Roberts,” Tony said. “T want one of you men to go out there and keep an eye on Miss Cortland’s car. Some- thing is wrong with it again; she had trouble earlier in the day. It isn’t necessary to dis- turb Miss Letherby. We are going to walk back to the hotel through the park, and | will send some one to tow it into the garage.” He turned to Robinetta. “ How long will it take you to walk?” he asked. She laughed. “It's right across from the park, isn’t it? About ten minutes, then; really, it isn’t necessary for any one to watch the car, it has been out in the street ) all evening.’ “But it’s late now,” said Tony; ‘ ten thirty, anyhow. You never know what crooks may come by. Perhaps some me- chanical genius could make that car run, after all; far enough to steal it, anyhow.” Laughing, they nodded at the man who followed them down to the car, and made off at a rapid pace along the street. As they turned the corner Robin said quietly: ‘Splendid; now, is there any chance of a taxi?” “We might have to wait,’ said Tony, ‘they don’t run much here so far up the avenue. I thought I could get a friend of mine to lend me his runabout; it won't take a minute; he lives right here.” “T'll wait,” said Robin briefly. It seemed the only thing to do. Time was of moment; Robin could not accompany him to young Pedley’s home at this hour of the night while he asked for the loan of a motor-car. It was not until Tony had rung the bell comlichooks.conly